Kennesaw State University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. – Basketball season is upon as the Owls hit the hardwood for their first preseason game of the season tonight as they battle the Fort Valley State Wildcats at the KSU Convocation Center.

Tonight’s game marks the debut of three redshirts, Markeith Cummings, Ladaris Green and Matt Heramb as the Owls take their first step towards rebuilding from a seven-win season a year ago.

Kennesaw State enters the game with a 6-1 record in preseason games since they became a Division I member in 2005 and holds a six-game winning streak in exhibition games, which includes being undefeated in preseason games at the KSU Convocation Center.

However, wins and losses are not as big a piece of the puzzle as getting a feel for this seasons team, which will be the first team that will be eligible to play in the conference tournament. Not a given, however, as only eight of nine teams will participate in the conference tournament and the Owls were picked to finish last in the league in the preseason coaches poll.

Tonight, the Owls will face a talented Fort Valley State squad that finished last season with a 13-16 record and a 12-12 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Wildcats do return four of their top five leading scorers from a year ago including leading scorer, Martrez Scott, and their second-leading rebounder in Darrell Aiken.

Head Coach Tony Ingle will have height in the lineup tonight, something he has been lacking put on display to

The Owls and the Wildcats will be meeting for the third time in the preseason. The Owls defeated Fort Valley State, 83-58 in 2007 and in 2006 came away with a 68-56 win. The Owls also have a 4-0 record against the Wildcats in regular season meetings, but have not played Fort Valley State since the 1997-98 season.

Tip-off between Kennesaw State and Fort Valley State is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.